O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A

I have a few vivid memories of traveling to Oklahoma with my good freind Kamie and her family when I was around thirteen/fourteen years old. I was part of their trip to visit with Kamie's Uncle (and family) living in Oklahoma City. I remember the night we arrived was very stormy, and several tornadoes had been spotted in the area. I also remember the family being very relaxed about the threat...even going out on the back patio and looking into the sky to see if they could watch anything form. After a long, stormy night, which I primarily spent in the bathroom applying my fake tan in a bottle (believe me when I say that's a whole story unto itself ;), we traveled the next morning to a local water park for a day of wet and wild fun. What I remember MOST vividly however, was going to see a live production of the Broadway musical Oklahoma in a large, outdoor ampitheater. They used real horses, and I remember that the haystack really caught fire at the end. The music was fabulous, and the night ended with the entire cast singing and dancing to the production's theme song, "Oklahoma, Ok!" (for all you Broadway junkies out there, I don't know if this is the song's actual title, but I think it is...I'm too lazy to go and look it up at the moment). I especially loved the part of the song where they spell out the state's name over and over again...O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A
That's the memories from my teenage mind. I don't remember ANYTHING about the general landscape, the look of the town, or the overall friendliness of the people. The truth is, I didn't have much of a reason to notice. However, as I board a plane this Thursday headed for Oklahoma once again, these are the questions foremost in my mind. My dear hubby and I are headed to Norman, Oklahoma for a weekend trip to see my sister and her husband. While it will be a wonderful weekend away with my hubby, and a time to visit with family, there is more to our trip. For over a year now, my dear hubby and I have discussed the possibility of moving our family to a smaller town. Most everyone who knows me will know that it has long been a desire of my heart to move back to a somewhat slower pace of life. My sister and her husband have lived in Norman for almost a year now (all of her hubby's family lives there). They have extolled Norman's many virtues, and asked us to consider making a move there. So, that's what we're doing....considering...not to mention praying, wondering, questioning, and asking God for some of what my friend Nicole would call "crazy wisdom". I wish I could tell you that I felt something one way or another, that I had a "feeling" about what might happen, but I don't. We are getting a realtor to show us around some houses/neighborhoods one morning while we are there. I am trying, really trying, to just "relax" and leave this at God's feet. I will, of course, continue to keep everyone updated as to what God has in store for the Smiths. I think my hubby is going to be taking the computer too, so who knows, maybe I'll get to blog from there...